9 Unconventional Jollof Rice recipes for World Jollof Rice Day

If there is one West African dish that deserves celebration, it is the Jollof rice. A couple of years ago, World Jollof Rice day kicked off. It is unclear who started it but we are not complaining. However, there is no reason why Jollof rice should not become a global phenomenon. There are so many different ways to cook mouth-watering Jollof rice. In honor of today’s celebration, we have picked 7 unconventional recipes for you to try.

#1. Vegan Jollof Rice

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1⅓ cups diced onions
• 3 large garlic cloves, minced
• 1½ teaspoons
• 3 to 4 Thai chili peppers, sliced
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup uncooked basmati rice
• ½ teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 14-ounce can of crushed tomatoes
• 1 cup vegetable broth or water
• chopped parsley to serve

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#2. Senegalese Jollof Rice aka Thieboudienne

Ingredients

• A handful of parsley 
• 3 cloves of garlic
• 1 scotch bonnet/ habanero pepper
• 1 tsp shrimp bouillon
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp salt
• 2½ lbs blue snapper fish preferably cut into fish steaks (or any white fish of your choice)

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#3. Oven-Baked Jollof Rice

Ingredients

• 1 medium onion chopped
• 1 14 ounces Can tomatoes sauce
• ½ cup cooking oil
• 3 cups rice I used Basmati
• 2 teaspoon Chicken bouillon
• 2 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon paprika
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 4 cups chicken broth or water
• 1 teaspoon white pepper
• ½ teaspoon dried thyme optional
• 1 scotch bonnet pepper or ¾ teaspoon hot pepper omit if cooking for kids
• 1 pound vegetables
• 1 pound beef chicken , shrimp(optional)

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#4. Native Jollof Rice

Ingredients

• 2 cups regular rice
• Chopped Ugu vegetable
• ¼ cup smoked big prawn
• 1 cup Ponmo (dried cower skin) cut into pieces
• 1 big smoked fish catfish
• 1 Tbsp ground crayfish
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 seasoning cube
• 2 chopped Paprika Chilli
• Blend 10 plum tomatoes, 2 habanero peppers, and 1 onion
• 1 chopped habanero pepper
• 1 medium onion
• 2 fresh yellow peppers
• ¼ cup palm oil
• 1 Tbsp Iru (locust beans)

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#5. ‘Oiless’ Jollof Rice

Ingredients

• 2 cups long-grain rice(wash until clear and thoroughly drain)(you can use basmati rice. see note)
• 4-6 plum tomatoes
• 1-3 habanero peppers (ata rodo)
• 3 garlic cloves
• ½ inch ginger
• 2 very ripe red bell peppers
• 1 medium onion
• 1tsp thyme leaves(a sprig of rosemary will do)
• 3-4tsps smoked paprika
• ½ tsp curry powder
• 1 tsp cracked black pepper
• 1tsp white pepper
• ¼ tsp nutmeg
• 3 bay leaves
• 1 cup coconut milk(optional)
• 2-3 cups water or meat stock
• ½-1 tbsp. coconut oil or butter(optional)
• bouillon
• salt to taste

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#6. Cameroon Jollof Rice

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• ½ large yellow onion, diced
• 3 large garlic cloves, minced
• 1½ tsp ginger minced
• 3 to 4 Thai chili peppers, sliced
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup uncooked basmati rice
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 14-ounce (400g) can of crushed tomatoes
• 1 cup (250ml) vegetable broth or water
• chopped parsley to serve

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#7. Gambia Jollof Rice aka Benachin

Ingredients

• 3 cups of medium or long-grain rice (not basmati)
• 2 onions
• 6 cloves garlic
• 5 kani chili peppers
• 1 Tbsp black peppercorns
• 3 firm-fleshed whole fish
• 1 piece of sea snail
• ½ a salted dried fish
• 4 lemons
• 1 tbsp coarse sea salt
• 1 cup peanut oil
• 2 cups water (plus more)
• 2 cubes vegetable stock
• 4 carrots
• 2 pieces of squash
• 2 bitter tomatoes
• 4 pieces of niambi or cassava root
• 1/2 a medium cabbage, cut into two pieces
• 1 sweet potato, cut into 4 pieces
• 4-6 medium tomatoes
• 8 cups water approximately
• Salt and pepper to taste

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#8. Coconut Jollof Rice

Ingredients

• Easy cook rice
• Tatashe (red bell pepper)
• Tomatoes
• Tomato sauce or tomato puree
• Onions
• Curry powder
• Dried Thyme
• Ginger
• Chopped Carrots
• Chopped runner beans (green beans)
• Beef stock
• White pepper
• Vegetable oil
• Coconut milk

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#9. Cauliflower Jollof Rice

Ingredients

• Palm Oil
• Cauliflower rice / grated Cauliflower
• Spring Onions AND/OR ½ Onions
• Bell Pepper
• 3 Tomatoes OR ½ a tin of Tomato plum
• Chilli (Optional)
• 1 Bay leaf
• Spices, seasoning, and salt
• Butter
• Stock or leftover Meat fat (optional)

Get Recipe Here